My 40 Breeder Photo Journal - Lots of Pics

[druluv]

I always wanted to start a nano-tank. My LFS used to say small aquariums were harder to take care of than bigger ones. With that said I never tried one. However, with the new products aim for nano-tanks it may be easier to set them up.

For a nano tank,

I needed to find a good set-up:
JBJ, Current, and other "all in one nano tanks" packages do come with everything you need but it is difficult to add other equipment to these set-ups. i.e CA Reactors or protein skimmers.

I want something nice to add to living room or den, After a lot of research, I decided to try a AGA 40 gallon breeder.

Oceanic Tanks are too expensive, Perfecto didn't make the one I wanted.

Here's the dim of the 40 Breeder
36L X 18W X 16H

The AGA 40G Breeder, To me is a good size nano. The tank has nice length and width. The 16H is perfect for any type of lighting because it is so shallow.

Lighting:
36" sunlight supply eight bulb t-5 with uri bulbs


Filtration:
Protein skimmer: Urchin / DIY - Mud Sump

Ca Supplementation:
Knop reactor

Here are some pics

My task List:
Drill the 30G Tank
Turn 15G Tank into Reefugium

 

[druluv]

The dimensions allow me too use a sump in the mix, which is very important to me.

In the sump I going to use a protein skimmer / Reefugium set up. Here are pics of the protein skimmer.

I love this skimmer. It has a very slim design and doesn't take up any space. This one is rated for a 75gal tank, so this should be sufficient. The skimmer will go in the first chamber.

Next step is to drill the tank. I wanted to keep cost low, so I won't use a surface skimmer box. I will just use 1" screens to drain the water to the sump.

I need to get glass sheets for the sump. I'm using a 15 gallon tank for the sump.
I Should have pics of the drilling process.

 

[druluv]

I drilled two holes today for the return.

Here are some pics:

This drill makes cutting glass real easy. It has suction cups and it sits on top of the glass. Works Like a drill press.

I forgot to buy the correct cooling ring for the drill, but it worked out. The thing about drilling thin glass is that you have to take your time and keep the drill bit cool.

 

[druluv]

The two drain holes will help with turn over. The two one inch holes will give me about 1000 to 1200 gallons per gallon. That is a good turnover rate on a 40 Gallon Tank (25 - 30X).

I'm really scared about phosphates. I know that new tanks can absorb a lot of phosphates quickly. I don't want phosphates being locked up in my live rock or sand. When live rocks reach the saturation point with PO4, it can be release back into the system, so I want to deal with them early.

I'm going to use rowa-phos in a phosban reactor. I rather PO4 stick to ferric oxide than to my live Rock and sand.

I will also use rowa carbon or Marine land carbon in a phosaban reactor. This will help keep the water clear for maximum Light penetration.

I might use another one for seachem purigen, but I’m not sure as of yet.

Next step is to clean off the tank and screw in the bulk heads. This is also a good time to think about the flow in the tank. I want to minimize any dead spots in the tank. A closed Loop may be a good idea.

 

[druluv]

So I need to make my diy berlin/ fuge set-up.
I'm using a 15gal tank 24L X 12-14 W. This should be perfect for this set-up.

I used a diamond edge cutter to cut the glass sheet baffles.

As you can see I need more gluing skills. I cleaned up most of the excess silicone. I also drilled 1" return hole in the sump. This will allow me to use external pumps to reduce heat within the aquarium

Not as nice as the ecosystem ones.

 

[druluv]

Plumbing details! As you can see I don't have all the supplies I need. I have two mak pumps; one is for the return , the other is for a closed loop.

I got a battery operated air pump for just in case.

I have some loc line fittings and Penductor/Educators. I wanted to see if they really created more flow.

Ok then

The return pump is going to be running into the wavy sea.

The closed loop will be running with a oceansmotions four-way device with the fittings.

I hope I don't need to add any pumps into the tank.

second pic, I added a closed loop hole to drain water directly into the pump. I'll run the other pipes over the top of the tank. This is one of the most important steps; get it wrong and you have to tear the down the whole tank

Almost there! Need to make a home depot run. 10min trip and a hour check out wait for 10 pvc fittings. Home depot sucks!

 

[MinibowMatt]

looking good. whats the specifics on that drill?
I think those eductors might be too much flow for a 36" long tank. (that depends on what your input flow is tho)

 

[gjuarez3]

Very nice. Well planned and nicely documented.

 

[druluv]

thanks MinibowMatt & gjuarz

I don't know too much about eductors but they are going to run a oceans motions squirt, so the flow will not be consant

 

[druluv]

One of the tanks of the month won with just t-5 lighting. This person had excellent coloration with their corals. I wanted to try this approach too.

I going to try

The sunlight supply t-5 tek light.

This thing is super-bright

 

[druluv]

Update: Plumbing Time!

Now it is time to add a background and do the piping manifold. This is what I have so far:

I'm trying to hide all of the pipe work, so the flow will be generated by a closed loop, wavy sea wave generator, and by the main pump

Here is the start of the backgroud rock formation

Some of the pipe work

 

[druluv]

Just completed the Faux Rock background display. Here are some pics

This is the oceansmotions squirt. This device directs water through four different ports in a set sequence to provide flow. The device is part of the closed loop set-up.

 

[druluv]

OK, I'm Done with the Faux Background and I painted the back wall black. The paint filled in all the gaps. I also hid all of the piping in the tank. So no protruding white pvc pipes! So far I only set-up two pipes, so I have another 2 pipes to set-up for the closed loop. I might run these pipes along the side of the tank. So the wavy sea and fourway piping should provide some choatic water flow.

Here are some pics

 

[ZC]

Looking good post some more pics when you get them!

 

[HighestOlive]

Looking at this makes me wonder if you saw my tank which I set up just like this minus the foam rock.

Can't wait to see some more of this.

 

[kellyandcarrie]

This is going to be a beautiful tank. Keep up the good work!! I appreiciate the documentation 'cause I'm a visual learner, Thanks. ~Carrie

 

[philagothos]

Looking great so far! Is this going to be an SPS only tank? Just asking because that is some SERIOUS lighting! Also, any softies will be running for cover (if they aren't getting blown away by the eductors)!

I'm actually thinking about setting up a 40 breeder as well, so I'll be tagging along.

 

[Travis Savant]

Cool project, tagging along!

 

[surg_xero]

You truely attest that reefkeeping is all bout engineering every aspect of the tank to the extreme. Just a note... the educators require a pump designed for high head pressure to utlize their output capabilities.

 

[bigtank]

You mentioned phosphates...it would make sense to use RO/DI water from the start. I used regular tap water on my first tank and phosphates were a big problem... this time around, the RO/DI will be installed before the tank is set up. JMO